Ecotourism in Madagascar:

Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean between Mozambique (Africa mainland) and the islands of Mauritius and Reunion. It is the fourth largest island in the world, and is home to 5 per cent of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80 per cent are endemic. Most notable are the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three endemic bird families and six endemic baobab species (Goodman et al, 2003). However, due to various political, economic, and social factors, Madagascar's tourism and, in particular ecotourism, ¹ potentials have been ‘asleep’ for a long time. The story of Madagascar is similar to that of Walt Disney's ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Often called ‘divine creation’, a ‘biodiversity hot spot’, a ‘Garden of Eden’, ‘The kingdom of baobabs’ or ‘Madagascar – La vie en grand’, these slogans are increasingly matching the reality. Madagascar is currently awakening to its potential for tourism development and has much to offer to tourists. Some of Madagascar's attractions include:

4828km of mostly untouched coastline (CIA World Factbook, 2008);

the third largest reef in the world and several world renowned spots for diving;

a unique population, combining African and Asian influences, integrating ancient traditions into modern living;

a wide variety of options for tourists, including sun and sand tourism, nature and cultural tourism, and adventure tourism; and

46 existing protected areas (one of the highest levels in the world for one country) covering 1,700,000ha and hosting 6 natural heritage sites. ² In and around these protected areas 85 per cent of flora, 39 per cent of birds, 91 per cent of reptiles, 99 per cent of amphibians and 100 per cent of lemurs are endemic (MAP, 2006, p98ff).

With such a varied diversity of natural and cultural resources, one might think that Madagascar has a very promising base for ecotourism development, especially as the country's political and economic conditions have been stabilized in the recent past. So why has Madagascar not been better recognized as a destination on the tourism map? Why has tourism development not increased living standards for the local population in one of the most underdeveloped countries of the world? ³ Why has a country with such outstanding natural and cultural resources not been able to create a proper ecotourism niche and sustainably manage their resources? These are the questions which this chapter will try to answer by reviewing in detail Madagascar's tourism development history and current ecotourism development.